New Buildings in Kyiv: Pros and Cons of Buying an Apartment

If you have decided to buy an apartment in Kyiv, the best option is housing in a new building, as it is spacious, functional, and neat. Therefore, we suggest thoroughly examining all the aspects of purchasing an apartment on the primary market in the capital of Ukraine.

Pros of Apartments in New Buildings


Buying an apartment in a new building in Kyiv has several advantages over buying a property on the secondary market. Here are the main advantages:

New buildings in Kyiv are constructed using the most modern technologies in Ukraine, which ensures better energy efficiency, sound insulation, and durability. At the same time, the buyer receives a guarantee from the developer on the structural elements (foundation, walls, supports, ceilings, stairs) and engineering networks. 

New buildings offer more modern and convenient layouts, with space being more functional than in apartments of the old housing stock. In addition, if desired, you can freely redesign your future home. Besides, you are free to choose the floor, area, and design.

 If you buy a "turnkey" apartment and not just bare walls, then you won’t need to invest in repairs: everything here is new – from plumbing to windows. As is known, bringing an apartment with so-called Soviet repairs into order will cost at least half the price of the property.

Suppose you want to rent out or sell your apartment in Kyiv. In this case, your chances are significantly higher if your property is in a new building, not in an old district and far from the metro station. Moreover, the value of housing in a new building will tend to increase, especially after the completion of the residential complex and the adjacent infrastructure. 

Usually, new buildings in Kyiv are accompanied by the creation of the necessary infrastructure: shops, parking lots, a kindergarten, a café, a beauty salon, a pharmacy, a sports ground, various courses, and household and medical service facilities.

 New residential complexes in the capital are usually equipped with modern security systems, including video surveillance and security, which controls access at the entrance to the residential complex and monitors the maintenance of order on the territory. Gated complexes are surrounded by fences, and only residents with an electronic key can enter. 

It is comfortable to live in modern residential complexes: the buildings here are equipped with new elevators, cleanliness is maintained on the territory, landscaping is carried out; there are relaxation zones and safe children's playgrounds. It is also important who lives in the neighboring apartments and the residential complex as a whole, as the contingent in old buildings can be questionable.

Cons of Apartments in New Buildings


For the sake of objectivity, it is also worth mentioning the drawbacks of apartments in new buildings, as they also exist. The main ones are as follows:

The prices of apartments (with renovations) in new buildings in Kyiv are usually higher than on the secondary market. However, it should be considered that the quality of new apartments is incomparable to housing on the secondary market, and especially to the notorious "Khrushchyovkas." Often, the neighborhood itself, built with Soviet-era blockhouses, can evoke unpleasant feelings and drag the housing price down. Are you ready to live in such conditions?

 A traditional problem with new buildings, which has become a well-known issue, is delays in the commissioning of the house. In such a case, you won't be able to move in at the planned time and enjoy life in your new home as anticipated.

 It is also worth mentioning the situation where the developer does not fulfill their obligations and completely halts construction. Such cases, particularly in Kyiv, still occur.

 Often, residential complexes consist of several buildings, but they are built and commissioned in phases. Imagine that you have already received the keys and moved in, but there is ongoing construction next door – this may cause certain inconveniences due to construction work, although they will eventually disappear.

 If the new building is located in a new district of Kyiv, the necessary infrastructure for full living may initially be absent. You may feel as if you are living on an island, and you will have to travel to a neighboring district for conveniences until the construction is fully completed. 

In new buildings, there are sometimes issues with connecting to utility networks – water and gas supply, sewage, and electricity. For example, at first, some people have to pay for electricity at an industrial rate, which is twice as high as the residential rate. Or gas companies may refuse to supply gas to the building because it is under-occupied. Or, say, the neighboring apartments in your high-rise are vacant, so in winter, you will need to run your heating system at full capacity to warm your apartment (in this case, there is a risk of condensation forming on the shared walls, which may negatively affect their condition).

During the first year of the building's operation, some defects may appear, for example, issues with certain elements related to the foundation settling. 

There are cases when the developer independently changes the layout, for example, extending a room by incorporating the balcony. The total area of the apartment may also differ from the project by several square meters in either direction. You will have to pay for the "extra" square meters, but at the price fixed in your contract, not at today's rate.

How to Choose a New Building for Buying an Apartment

If you decide to buy an apartment in Kyiv, you should approach the choice of a new building very seriously, as this is one of the most important questions a buyer faces. So, what nuances should you pay attention to when choosing a residential complex for yourself? Here is a short list of such aspects:

First of all, you need to research the reputation of the developer: check their market history, review feedback on their activities, and find out about their previous projects and whether there were any issues with them. It is advisable to visit at least one such property and talk to the residents of the complex. The developer must be reliable – this is rule number one when choosing a residential complex.

Next, evaluate the location of your residential complex from several perspectives: transportation accessibility, the presence of infrastructure (schools, kindergartens, shops, hospitals), the general development of the area, and its prospects. Ask local residents about this.

Familiarize yourself with the layouts of the offered apartments, their functionality, and the possibility of redesigning them. Pay attention to the size of the rooms, the placement of windows and balconies, the kitchen, bathroom, and toilet. Choose the floor based on your needs, preferences, or the price difference depending on the building’s height.

To understand the price, compare the cost of the selected apartment with the average figures in the area, but be sure to take into account the class of real estate – economy, comfort, business, or elite/premium. Explore the options for installment payments and loans if you are not planning to pay the full amount upfront.

The quality of building materials used in the construction significantly impacts the comfort of living in a new building. This affects the soundproofing and heat retention of your apartment, and ultimately the durability of the building.

It is also important to know how much the monthly maintenance fee will be and what services will be provided. Therefore, find out which company will manage your residential complex after it is commissioned and what the utility rates will be. Believe me, this can also influence your decision to buy an apartment in this residential complex.

And, of course, ensure the legal clarity of the apartment purchase agreement: check for all licenses and permits for construction, as well as the intended use of the land plot. For this, we recommend contacting specialists – realtors or lawyers who will protect you from unnecessary troubles in the future, or even from fraud. Due to improper documentation by the developer, issues with the commissioning of the building may last for years, and this is not only relevant to Kyiv.

Popular New Buildings in Kyiv


Taking into account the advantages and disadvantages of apartments in new buildings outlined above, we have selected the best options available on the capital’s real estate market.

Tips for Buying an Apartment in a New Building


Every apartment buyer follows their own strategy in searching for the necessary housing. You can track sales offers on specialized websites and social networks, dedicating an hour or two to this task every day.


You can call developers' offices or personally visit residential complexes that are under construction. However, in Kyiv, this will take quite some time, as the distances here are not small.


Some rely on recommendations from friends and acquaintances who already have experience buying an apartment in the capital. But this experience is not always helpful, as everyone has their own requirements for future housing, and financial capabilities also differ.

In fact, finding “your” apartment in Kyiv, where there are thousands of offers, is not an easy task and very time-consuming, requiring a lot of time, effort, and attention. Already on the second day of such searches, you may feel overwhelmed and confused. At the same time, despite daily monitoring of the real estate market, you might miss the apartment of your dreams, which was put up for sale at a "tasty" price.

If the buyer turns to a realtor, they will save themselves the headache associated with searching for housing – after all, real estate agencies exist precisely to professionally handle the selection of apartments for clients. Realtors always have real estate databases with daily updates at hand, so rest assured: they won’t miss housing that meets your criteria and will definitely call you.

It is also important to keep in mind that you not only need to find the right apartment in Kyiv but also check its technical condition and documents, and delve into all the legal nuances. Here, special knowledge is indispensable, so the buyer will still need to involve a specialist to avoid trouble. Unfortunately, dishonest sellers still operate in the market.

In addition to realtors, many real estate agencies also employ a real estate lawyer in Kyiv to provide legal expertise. They will help prepare all the necessary documents and safely conclude a purchase and sale agreement, investment agreement, or loan. This way, you will avoid fraud and problems in the future.

Thus, the lawyer of the real estate agency will take care of the following matters:
• Checking documents such as the certificate of ownership, technical passport, certificate of no debt for utility services, and certificate of no mortgage or arrest of the apartment.
• Conclusion of a purchase and sale agreement in strict accordance with legal requirements.
• Consultation on the payment terms and form, and establishing the procedure for key handover.
• Registration of ownership of the purchased property in the State Register and obtaining the corresponding certificate.

One of the real estate agencies that provides comprehensive services for the search and sale of real estate in Kyiv is AXIS. When contacting AXIS, you will not need to hire a lawyer separately to safely complete the purchase of the apartment. All contracts handled by AXIS are legally protected, as they are accompanied by experienced lawyers specifically in the field of real estate.